Richard ward jolly



Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,283

R. W. JOLLY COTN CONTROLLED ELECTRICITY METER Filed Dec. 8, 192aPatented Aug. 2 8, 1928 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE,

JOLLY, or wIMBLEnon, EN LAND, Assumed ONE-HALF METERS, LitivrrrnnorMANCHESTER, ENGLAND.

RICHARD WARD COIN-CONTROLLED ELECTRICITY mn'rnn'.

Application filed December 8, 1926, Serial No. 153 -,418, and 1:n GreatBritain February '6, 1926.

This invention relates to coin-operated mechanisms, more particularlyfor use in connection with prepayment meters for electricity and thelike.

The present invention consists in the coincontrolled electricity meterhereinafter de scribed and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying draw- .1ngs:

Figure 1 is a front view with removed;

Figure 2 is a side view with a portion of the frame removed; v

Figure 8 is a view of Figure 2 looking in the direction of arrow;

Figure 4 is a detail.

In carrying the invention into effect aca portion cording to the formillustrated'by way of designed to be operated. The price plate is lockedin varying angular positions, according to the price ruling of thecommodity in question, by means of a stop, hprovided on the frame, 1,which engages with indentations or teeth on the periphery of the priceplate. This stop, 41, can be removed and the plate rotated, orconversely the price plate can be lifted up so that the teeth clear thestop, rotated and replaced with the stop engaging another tooth. Theprice plate, 2, is held from being disengaged from the stop by means ofring, 5, fastened to the frame, 1, by suitable bolts or the like securedso that no unauthorized person can change the plate. Mounted rotatablyon the price plate is another plate, 6, having a slot, 7, for the coinof the same size as or larger than the slot, 3, in the price plate.

The price plate is provided in the centre with a hole through whichpasses the handle or knob, 8, which is securely fixed to the plate, 6.The knob, 8, is provided with a flange so that it cannot pass throughthe hole in the price plate. The plate, 6, can thus be rotatedrelatively to the price plate. A projecting portion, 9, is provided inthe plate, 6, which comes in contact with a stop, 10, on the back of theprice plate in which position the slots, 3

insertion of the coin. Immediatelybehind the slot, 7, is provided apocket, 11, for the coin consisting of a U-shaped metal chamber, 12,the'ends of the arms being flanged 'over to form feet, 13,-which aresecured to the plate, 6. The coin pocket'may be attached by any othersuitable means to the plate, 6..

Over the end of the coin pocket, which is open, a catch, 14, is providedto prevent the coin from escaping consisting of a right angled orL-shaped piece of sheet metal,- the short end of which covers'theopeningand the long end of which is securedto' a Hat spring, 15, fastened tothe side of the coin'pocket to keep the coin pocket losed. This catch isoperated .in'the extreme position of travel by a stop, 16, against whichit comes in contact so as to open thejpbcket' and allow the coin to beejected'while the projection, 17, makes contact with the coin pocketitself and prevents further rotation. This stop, 16, is mounted in afixed upon the frame of the mechanism.

In the coin pocket ismounted a lever, 18, (Figure 4) the pivotal pointof which is formed by the projection, 19, which slides between two pins,20, 20,in said pocket in a radialdirection either at right-angles orslightly inclined to the axis'of rotation of said pocket and pivotsabout the pln 20. The pivotal point may be situated'at the bottom of theU-shaped pocket or in any other suitable position. The free'endof the,lever projects through the open end of the pocket awayfrom the end inwhich the coin is placed and is provided "with a projection, 21, which sadapted to engage in a toothed or notched wheel, 22, when the coin isinserted. A pawl (not shown) is provided to prevent the wheel, 22, fromrotatingin one direction. The projection, 21, on the'lever may be soarranged that rotation of the lever about its pivotal point brings theprojection up against the toothed or notched wheel at a d stance lessthan the bottom of the teeth from the centre of said wheel. In thismanner the projection on the lever will not enter the teeth or notchesin any position unless a radial motion is given to said projection whichthen allows it to enter the notch or tooth corresponding to itsposition.

On or near the projection, 21, of the lever is mounted a pin, 23, towhich is attached a. spring, 24. The other endof the spring is attachedto a suitable pin, 25, or the like. This pin is situated so as to be outof alignment with the line joining the end of the lever and the pointabout which the lever pivots. In this manner the spring tends always topull the lever towards the end in which the coin is inserted and alsorotates the lever about its pivotal point so that the projection is heldout of engagement with the teeth or notches in the wheel, 22, when acoin is not in position in the coin pocket.

This s ring also acts upon the lever, 18, so that irectly the catch, 14,at the end of the coin pocket is displaced the spring presses the coinand thus positively ejects it from the pocket.

The end of the lever in contact with the coin is provided with arojection, 26, of such a shape that on insertion of the coin the leverismade first to rotate about its pivotal point against the force of thespring and afterwards to slide in a radial direction lever to engage inthe teeth or notches, until the coin has been inserted a sufficientamount when the lever sprin s back and draws the coinicompletely intothe pocket by means of the inclined edge, 27.

The price plate, 2, may be so arranged that the projection, 21, on thelever will not enter a tooth or notch on the plate, 22, when the coin isinserted until the handle has been turned sufiiciently to completelyclose the slot, 7, through which the coin has been inserted.

When the end, 21, of the lever is opposite a tooth the rotary motioncontinues, due to the spring, 24, and the projection enters the slot ortooth in the wheel.

The centre of the coin pocket may be provided with a small trunnion, 28,which fits into the centre of the toothed or notched wheel, 22, so as toform a bearing about which the coin pocket rotates.

The toothed or notched wheel is attached to the usual differentialmechanism or the like which controls the supply and may cut it off afterthe predetermined amount has been supplied.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. In a coin-controlled electric meter, thecombination comprising a frame, a pricechange plate rotatably mounted onsaid frame and having a coin insertion slot therein, means for securingsaid plate in varying angular positions with respect to said frame, acoin pocket rotatably mounted upon said price-change plate, a leverrotatably mounted within said coin pocket and having a projectionthereon, two pin members mounted upon said coin pocket and 'co-actingwith said projection so as to allow said lever to slide and rotate, andmeans attached to said coin pocket for retaining the coin in the pocketduring the required rotation of said pocket, as set forth.

2. In a coin-controlled electric meter, the combination comprising aframe, a pricechange plate rotatably mounted on said frame, and having acoin insertion slot therein, means for securing said plate in varyingangular positions with respect to said frame, a coin pocket rotatablymounted upon said price-change plate, a lever slidably mounted withinsaid coin pocket and having two projections thereon, two pin membersmounted upon said coin pocket and co-acting with-one of said projectionsso as to allow said lever to slide and rotate, the other said projectionco-acting with the coin to draw it through the said slot, and meansattached to said coin pocket for retaining the coin in the pocket duringthe required rotation of the said pocket, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RICHARD WARD JOLLY.

